🔗 Share this article

The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has declared it will appeal FIFA's decision to penalize the body for allegedly forging the citizenship documents of multiple foreign-born players, who have now been banned from playing for the country for one year.

The Global Football Body's Claims and Penalties

In the ninth month, FIFA levied a fine of $438,000 on the Malaysian association and banned the footballers after discovering that their ancestors were not born in Malaysia as stated, but rather in Argentina, Brazil, the European country and Spain. The international football authority restated its claims about doctored documentation in a official investigation report published on Monday.

Each of the individuals – who all took part in Malaysia's 4-0 victory over Vietnam in the 2027 Asian Cup qualifier this summer – was also penalized $2,500.

The accused individuals includes born in Spain Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Tomas Garces and Iraurgui, born in Argentina Rodrigo Julian Holgado and Imanol Javier Machuca, as well as Hector Alejandro Hevel Serrano who was born in the Netherlands, and Joao Vitor Brandao Figueiredo who was born the South American country.

FIFA's Position on Forgery

"Forgery constitutes, plain and simple, a form of dishonesty," stated FIFA in its findings.

"Forging documents strikes at the very core of the fundamental principles of football, not only those regulating a athlete's qualification to represent a country's squad, but also the essential values of a clean sport and the concept of sportsmanship," added a senior official, vice-chair of FIFA's ethics panel.

FAM's Response and Appeal Plan

The international body's document claims that the Malaysian association conceded it "received inquiries by external agencies regarding the players’ heritage and failed to personally confirm the authenticity of the papers."

"Initial documentation indicated a sharp contrast to the documentation provided," it noted.

FIFA also said it was "able to obtain the relevant original documents easily," which revealed a "lack of proper diligence" by the Malaysian body.

FAM reacted to FIFA's allegations in a official communication on the following day, maintaining the discrepancies were the outcome of an "administrative error" and the players are "rightful citizens of Malaysia."

"Claims that the athletes 'obtained or were aware of fake documents' are unfounded as no concrete proof has been provided so far," the announcement said.

The governing body will present an official appeal of the international body's ruling, using authentic papers that have been certified by the Malaysian government.

Southeast Asian Background and Political Responses

South-east Asian nations have lately pursued recruitment drives for naturalised players, inspired by the Indonesian approach of recruiting born in the Netherlands footballers from the Indonesian diaspora.

Malaysia's sports minister, Hannah Yeoh, said in a release that "the football association must finish the challenge procedure and that they should not stay quiet but must respond clearly to every disclosure made by FIFA."

"Supporters are upset, hurt and let down," she remarked.

Present Situation and Forthcoming Games

Despite uncertainty surrounding the squad's lineup, the team is now placed 123rd in FIFA's AFC ranking and is scheduled to compete in Asian Cup qualifiers in the coming weeks, facing Laos on the upcoming Thursday.